Returning to Adelaide ‘harder’ than Colombian prison for Cocaine Cassie

Cassie Sainsbury has spoken out about trying to scrub her reputation clean after a stint in a Colombian prison for drug trafficking, and admitted returning to SA was a huge challenge.

Cassie Sainsbury said returning to Adelaide was harder than prison.

Convicted international drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury has admitted returning to Adelaide was “harder” then her three years locked up in Colombian prison.

Speaking to FIVEaa in the lead-up to her appearance on reality television show SAS Australia, Sainsbury said the nickname “Cocaine Cassie” has followed her “like a bad smell”.

“It’s been really difficult actually,” she said.

“At the start and probably up until about six months ago, it was still quite a ‘get on my nerves’ type thing.

“However I think over the last six months, I’ve kind of learnt to not let it affect me as much anymore.

“Yes, that’s the name everyone knows me by but I’m not letting it define me anymore.”

She said she was compelled to make an appearance on a reality TV show to prove to audiences she has changed and isn’t the same person who attempted to smuggle cocaine out of Colombia.

Sainsbury said it has been difficult to shed the nickname ‘Cocaine Cassie’ which she was given after she was convicted of drug smuggling in Colombia. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“It was probably the most open and honest way to show myself in an untouched version, obviously because there is no time to pretend or be take on the course at all,” she said.

She said prior to the show she tried to “go on about my life in the shadows” but it was virtually impossible.

Cassie Sainsbury is one of the contestants on SAS Australia.

“When someone recognises my name it, you know, shuts any doors,” she said.

After her time in prison Sainsbury returned to Adelaide, a place she continues to call home, but her return was anything but easy.

“I thought the hardest part of my life was actually going through that time inside prison,” she said.

Convicted South Australian drug smuggler and reality television personality Cassie Sainsbury. Pics: Supplied

Cassandra Sainsbury dropped four dress sizes in five months. Picture: Instagram

“But actually, the real challenge for me was coming home and putting myself in front of everything that had happened and putting on big boy pants and just dealing with it as it came, which I have done.

“I’ve tried to be as open as I can about it.”

After dropping a whopping four dress sizes in five months, Sainsbury developed a new fitness program and began working for herself.

“I can’t say there’s a lot of employment opportunities out there for me, not for the lack of trying either,” she said.

“It’s something I’ve had to add to the list to push through and not let it bring me down.”